Kiln car superstructure



Dec. 13, 1932. 5, R 1,890,978

KILN CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE Filed NOV. 19. 1929 ATTORNEY V Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFI5E HARRY EDGAR FEAR, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NEW CASTLE REFRACTOKIES COMPANY, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE KILN GAR 'SUPERSTRUCTURE The present invention relates to the constructionof trucks or cars for conveying material through a continuous tunnel kiln of the muffle heated type and particularly a kiln of the well known Dressler type in which the kiln chamber is heated by internal combustion chambers :and the transfer of heat from the combustion chambers to the material on the cars-is primarily by means of convection currents of the kiln atmosphere. More particularly my invention relates to kiln car superstructure constructions comprising a permanent combination of posts and slabs arranged to form aplurality of superposed decks.

In kiln cars of the deck and post superstructure type, it has been the practice in .burning flat ware to support the pieces on ware supporting pins mounted in closely spaced decksupporting posts, as is disclosed, for example, in the prior patent of George D. Morris, 1,674,836, granted June 26, 1928. VVhile-such a construction has proved efficient for that type of ware, it is not adapted for use in kilns where the ware pieces are of such various sizes and forms as to prevent them from being supported onpinsmounted in the posts. The pins have consequently been omitted and the ware pieces supported directly-on the decks. The last mentioned arrangement is disadvantageous in that only a small portion of the car capacity is utilized and when the ware piecesare small, the con centration .of the ware in one sectiontends to deflect the circulating atmosphere through the unobstructed portions of the deck passages with consequent lack of :uniformityin the heating effect.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a kiln car superstructure of the deck and post type whichcan be used with a high percentage of itscapacity regardless of thesize and shape of the ware pieces to be heat treated. In carrying out theobject of my invention I provide .one or more auxiliary ware supporting decks extending horizontally intermediate the superposed decks. While the auxiliary decks can be permanently arranged at ,dilferentilevels in different portionsof the car,I have found it advantageous to have the auxiliary decks removably mounted in the permanent supera better understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possesed by it reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. Of the drawing: Fig. ljis a side elevationof a kiln car incorporating my improved superstructure construction Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the supporting posts; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the car with one of the rear posts removed.

In the construction illustrated, A represents the refractory body portion of a truck or car such as is commonly employed in transporting ceramic ware-pieces in continu ous tunnel kilns. The body portion is provided withldepending bearing members A in which wheels A are rotataby mounted. A plurality of transverse 'I-beams B of onepiece refractory material are arranged on the .ody portion to form supports for the ware supporting superstructure. The I-beams are spaced apart longitudinally of the car to provide a series of transverse channels C through which the kiln chamber atmosphere circulates.

The car superstructurecomprises a permanent portion-havinga lower deck consisting of a plurality of flat refractory slabs 1) me tang-ular in outline and having their. adjacent end portions supported on .th'e I-beams B. -A plurality of vertical posts EandEztrepositioned on the lower deck at points spaced longitudinally and, transversely of the car,,the posts E being arranged intermediate and the deck D. A second deck consisting of a plurality of rectangular refractory slabs G is supported on the posts E and F. The superstructure space between the superposed decks D and G is usually connected to the transverse channels C by openings formed in the lower deck along the longitudinal center line of the car, whereby a flow path for the cir culating kiln atmosphere is provided.

Heretofore in post and deck superstructure constructions, it has been customary to closely space the supporting posts so that the ware is directly supported thereon by ware supporting pins. When, however, the wars is. so dimensioned that the use of ware supporting pins is not practicable, the ware pieces are placed on the lower deck Then the ware pieces are small, it will be readily apparent that only a small portion of the cross-sectional area of the kiln circulating passages is being utilized and also that the kiln atmosphere tends to flow through the unrestricted portions of the passages rather than the occupied portions with conseqiiient inefficient heating of the ware pieces.

To utilize substantially the maximum capacity of the circulation passages of the car superstructure and to bring the kiln atmos phere into more intimate contact with the ware positioned therein, I have provided the posts E and F with means for supporting one or more auxiliary decks intermediate the main decks D and G. In the present construction as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 the posts are of rectangular horizontal and vertical cross section and formed with one or more kerfs or notches E or F at different levels in their sides extending transversely of the car. The intermediate posts E are formed with notches E in each transverse side while the posts F have notches F at their inner sides only. Each of the auxiliarydecks con* sists of one or more thin refractory slabs J of rectangularoutline and arranged with their transverse ed e portions mounted in corresponding notclies E and F of adjacent posts E and F, respectively. Preferably, as illustrated in Fig. 3, each auxiliary deck slab is supported by four posts.

Obviously, the number of auxiliary decks used and the levels at which they are positioned depends on the dimensions of the ware pieces to be burned. For example, in Figs.

1 and 3 auxiliary decks J are shown positioned in the various notches E and F depending on whether the ware pieces R, S or T are to be positioned thereon. The Ware pieces positioned in the various superstructure sections may be all of the same dimensions, or pieces of different dimensions combined, whichever arrangement is most efficient.

The slidable mounting of auxiliary decks is advantageous in that these decks may be removed and loaded at the loading benches and the loaded slab slid into position. This arrangement particularly facilitates the loading and unloading of ware pieces positioned near the center of the car superstructure and permits easy repairs and replacements. These advantages could not be obtained in a construction in which the auxiliary decks are eliminated and the permanent decks spaced vertically a short distance. All of the super structure members are interchangeable in practice with similar parts.

WVhile I have described the car superstructure with only a single covered deck, it is customary and advantageous to utilize more than one deck. For that reason an upper series of auxiliary deck supporting posts E and F are positioned on the deck G, preferably in vertical alignment with the lower series of posts. A top deck composed of a plurality of refractory slabs H is supported on the upper posts. The deck slabs H are similar to the slabs G and D and their flat upper surfaces may be utilized for supporting ware pieces WV of such dimensions as to render positioning them in the lower superstructure passages impractical.

WVhile in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the parts disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a kiln car, a ware supporting superstructure comprising a permanently positioned section consisting of a pair of spaced ware supporting decks formed by horizontally arranged refractory slabs and a series of vertical refractory posts positioned at spaced points on the lower of said decks and arranged to support the upper of said decks, whereby the space between said decks is openly exposed to the kiln atmosphere on all sides, and means for supporting ware pieces of various dimensions in the spaces between said decks consisting of horizontal notches formed in the sides of said posts at various levels therein and interchangeable auxiliary refractory shelves horizontally slidable in corresponding notches of adjacent posts at levels varying with the dimensions of the ware directly supported thereon.

2. In a kiln car, a ware supporting superstructure comprising a permanently positioned section consisting of a pair of spaced ware supporting decks formed by horizontally arranged refractory slabs and a series of vertical refractory posts positioned at spaced points on the lower of said decks and arranged to support the upper of said decks, whereby the space between said decks is openly exposed to the kiln atmosphere on all sides, and means for supporting ware pieces of various dimensions in the spaces between said decks consisting of shelf receiving means in the sides of said posts at various levels therein and interchangeable auxiliary refractory shelves horizontally slidable on and relative to said posts at levels varying with the dimensions of the Ware pieces directly supported thereon.

Signed at Cleveland in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, this 15th day of November, A. D. 1929.

HARRY EDGAR FEAR. 

